In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 144

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 144

Thud.

During the conversation, the sound of something falling could be heard in the quiet council chamber.

When the nobles all turned toward the sound, they saw the Second Prince sitting at the head seat silently picking up the meeting minutes he had dropped on the ground.

“Pirenthia?”

At this completely unexpected name, Emperor Yobanes raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, Gallahan’s daughter… The one who was the Second Prince’s study companion when they were young.”

The gazes that had shifted to the Emperor turned once again toward Peres.

True to his nature of being impossible to read, the Second Prince silently received those gazes with a face like he was wearing a mask.

“That’s right, that child.”

“But you’re saying you’ll make that girl, not even Gallahan himself, the person in charge?”

The Emperor asked with bewilderment.

The nobles felt the same way.

However, Rulak had already anticipated such a reaction, so he answered without being flustered.

“Cleribane Pellet of the Pellet Trading Company, who currently possesses large quantities of Triva timber, has been teaching Pirenthia for a long time. My granddaughter is serving as a bridge between Lombardi and the Pellet Trading Company.”

“Even so… Hmm.”

Despite the explanation, seeing Yobanes continue to furrow his brow made Rulak inwardly uncomfortable.

I’m using my own money to help the north and want to use my granddaughter for it.

Why is he being so unnecessarily long-winded about it?

Moreover, this matter was something the Emperor should have rightfully resolved by opening the national treasury.

But knowing that Yobanes was as stingy about spending his own money as the nobles gathered here, I stepped forward myself.

If it were up to his temperament, he wanted to cancel everything and save the money out of spite, but he held back thinking of Tia.

Rulak hid his displeased expression and spoke to the assembly.

“Though my granddaughter is young in age, she is clever enough that I, Rulak, trust her with Lombardi’s major businesses. The Lombardi courier service is also her creation.”

“Oh, the courier service!”

“That business was Gallahan’s daughter’s work!”

Fortunately, an explosive reaction came from among the nobles.

They were all people who had visited the courier service presentation at least once.

The corners of Rulak’s mouth rose slightly without anyone noticing.

His shoulders naturally straightened with pride, and his nose lifted slightly higher.

“Indeed, Lombardi! Not only your children but even your grandchildren are excellent!”

“You must have no worries at all, Lombardi Family Head!”

The stiffly tense atmosphere of the council chamber relaxed in an instant.

Rulak also didn’t dislike the reactions of those praising his granddaughter, so he nodded with a subtle smile.

“Ahem.”

In the midst of that harmonious atmosphere, only Emperor Yobanes couldn’t smile comfortably.

Clearly, the center of this council chamber should be himself as the Emperor, but somehow the initiative of the atmosphere had passed to Lombardi again.

Moreover, the sight of that triumphant Rulak Lombardi being so proud of having raised good successors was irritating to his eyes.

“Since Lombardi has stepped forward, I cannot just sit still either.”

After pondering for a moment, Emperor Yobanes hid his sullen mood and spoke with a good-natured smile.

“The Imperial Court will also send 5,000 gold and relief supplies to the north. Furthermore, we’ll send an Imperial representative along with the supplies to provide whatever additional support may be needed.”

So the Imperial Court would also put forward a representative.

People perked up their ears, wondering whose name would be called.

Yobanes’s gaze was also busily scanning the assembly.

He was selecting a suitable person to appoint as the representative.

Then, a young and upright voice was heard.

“I will go to the north, Your Majesty.”

It was Peres.

“Like the eastern region, I have traveled extensively in the north for a long time. Since I know the geography of that region well, I will do my best to ensure smooth support on Your Majesty’s behalf.”

“Oh…”

Yobanes’s complexion brightened considerably.

Right, there was the Second Prince.

Rulak Lombardi had boasted about his great-granddaughter, but the Second Prince was his own son.

The Emperor laughed heartily and said.

“Yes, very reliable indeed! I appoint the Second Prince as the head of the northern relief project. Go and take care of the north in my place.”

And as if to show off, he scanned the nobles’ reactions.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please entrust it to me.”

The nobles’ eyes watching the Second Prince bow politely were quite pleasing to Yobanes’s heart.

Certainly, the Second Prince was different from the Crown Prince.

Whatever he did, he had dignity and was intelligent, inspiring trust.

It would have been good if he had been born through the Empress rather than a lowly commoner maid.

The insurmountable obstacle of his birth was quite regrettable.

“Then let’s move on to the next agenda item. The next item is…”

Emperor Yobanes, who was reading the list of agenda items submitted by the noble council, trailed off.

It was an agenda item he really wanted to avoid.

“It’s time to determine the cause of the landslide and decide on punishments, Your Majesty.”

When Yobanes tried to subtly skip over it, Rulak quickly informed him in a respectful voice.

“The landslide was a natural disaster, so what would be the point of finding a cause? What’s important is rebuilding the north as quickly as possible…”

“Please look at this.”

Rulak Lombardi handed over a few thin documents.

“What is this?”

“The reason the casualties from this landslide were relatively few was because a geologist employed by the Pellet Trading Company, while investigating near the northern mines, predicted the landslide in advance and warned the Aivan Family Head of the danger. This is a copy of that report.”

“Is that… really true?”

Yobanes asked the Aivan Family Head’s representative.

“Yes, Your Majesty. This is a fact I confirmed by asking my father.”

“In the report written by the geologist, two causes are clearly stated. First is the high rainfall, and second is excessive logging. And just as that scholar predicted, a major landslide occurred.”

“Hmm…”

“This means the northern landslide was also a man-made disaster.”

Yobanes revealed his uncomfortable mood by keeping his mouth shut.

How could he not know that Angenas had been excessively logging in partnership with Aivan?

But he didn’t want to punish Angenas.

It wasn’t out of sympathy for the Empress who was lying down, refusing food and drink.

It was a matter of pride.

He didn’t like the idea of Angenas, who was nominally the Imperial family’s in-laws, being punished for such a matter.

“Aivan Family Head’s representative.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What do you think?”

Of course, he’ll say it was a natural disaster.

Emperor Yobanes smiled inwardly.

Where in the world is there someone who wants to be punished?

“I… our Aivan will accept punishment with a heart of atonement toward Your Majesty and the people of our territory.”

“…What?”

The Emperor asked back in bewilderment.

“You’ll accept punishment?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Although there was pressure from Angenas, our Aivan failed in our duty to think first of the interests of our territory’s people and the northern citizens.”

The Aivan Family Head’s representative, who moistened his dry lips from nervousness and glanced at Rulak Lombardi, continued speaking.

“In reflection of this, our Aivan will not engage in any logging beyond what is necessary for our territory’s people’s livelihood for the next five years, nor will we profit from selling timber outside our territory.”

“You’re saying you’ll give up the lumber industry for the next five years?”

“…Yes.”

The Aivan family had chosen severe punishment for themselves.

The lumber industry was one of the important businesses that brought profit to the northern region.

And yet they were giving that up.

“Furthermore, if Your Majesty decides to impose other punishments, we will humbly accept those as well.”

This was essentially Aivan prostrating himself before the Emperor, admitting his wrongdoing.

Emperor Yobanes clicked his tongue inwardly.

Since Aivan had taken this stance, if Angenas got away without any punishment, questions about fairness would inevitably arise.

Moreover, the Aivan family head’s representative had just mentioned ‘Angenas’s pressure’ moments ago.

Yobanes had no choice but to punish Angenas in some form.

The nobles had also grown quiet.

Everyone was waiting only for the Emperor’s words.

And then, Peres spoke in a low voice.

“How about a monetary fine?”

“…A monetary fine?”

“Yes, that seems appropriate.”

A monetary fine was the lightest punishment that could be given to nobles while allowing them to maintain their dignity.

Sure enough.

Rulak Lombardi spoke in a low voice.

“The walls collapsed and there were casualties. This is not something that can be resolved with just a fine.”

“But a fine is still a fine, isn’t it?”

Peres countered Rulak’s words.

And looking at Emperor Yobanes, he said.

“I think it would be meaningful to impose a high monetary fine and use a certain amount of it for the northern reconstruction project, Your Majesty.”

“That’s an excellent idea!”

Emperor Yobanes slapped his knee and exclaimed.

Such a monetary fine would serve both purpose and maintain the Imperial family’s dignity.

Yobanes hurriedly proclaimed before any opposing opinions could emerge.

“I hereby impose a fine of 10,000 gold on the Angenas family, with half of that amount—5,000 gold—to be used for the northern reconstruction project.”

Since the imperial decree had been issued, there was no room for further debate.

Rulak quietly glared at the Second Prince.

‘Unpleasant fellow.’

From going to the north with Pirenthia to advocating for the monetary fine just now, everything was irritating.

No, from the first day he saw him in that crumbling pavilion, there wasn’t a single likeable thing about him.

Even though he must have been aware of Rulak’s hostile gaze, Peres looked at Rulak and uncharacteristically raised the corners of his mouth in a smile.

Though he wasn’t showing it much outwardly, Peres was in a very good mood right now.

Not only was he going to the north with Tia, but above all, making the Empress and Angenas spend the large sum of 10,000 gold was significant.

He had been worried that the Triva lumber he had diligently collected might not be enough to completely drain Angenas’s funds.

But 10,000 gold that had to be paid immediately was a very appropriate amount.

Following behind the Emperor as he exited the Grand Meeting Hall, Peres smiled deeply without making a sound.

* * *

“10,000 gold…!”

Empress Lavinia bit her lips upon hearing the results of the council meeting.

Normally, she would have been satisfied that her strategy had worked, but not now.

Funds were desperately insufficient.

“Should we… dispose of some territory?”

Duiji Angenas, who had been reading the situation, asked cautiously.

“…That’s the only way, isn’t it?”

Empress Lavinia answered in a cold voice.

The family that owned the largest territory in the west held the qualification to represent the western region.

Therefore, disposing of territory was a last resort.

But currently, no other viable solution was visible.

“Then shall we send letters to other families in the west…”

“Wait.”

The Empress stopped Duiji’s words and approached the desk.

And she picked up a letter that had arrived for her a few days ago.

Feeling the smooth texture of the high-quality paper with her fingertips, Empress Lavinia said to Duiji.

“If we continue disposing of territory to western families, the representative position could be in danger, Duiji.”

“Then… what should we do?”

“Someone who wouldn’t threaten our representative position even if they held western land deeds. We need to transfer it to such a person.”

The Empress muttered these cryptic words, then immediately sat at the desk and picked up a quill.

And shortly after, she handed Duiji a purple envelope sealed tightly with wax.

“Send this letter to Seo-Seo-u.”

* * *

“I couldn’t find anything suspicious. I think investigating Pellet Trading House any further would be a waste of time.”

Lignite spoke to Peres in a considerably lowered voice.

“What exactly are you trying to find? If you tell me, the investigation would be much easier.”

“…I don’t know exactly what it is either. But something is strange.”

At Peres’s answer, Lignite let out a small sigh.

But even so, he didn’t voice any complaints.

Peres’s instincts were always frighteningly accurate.

That’s why he patiently followed orders even regarding Peres’s baseless suspicions about Pellet Trading House.

“It is certainly strange though. A merchant refusing money and accepting losses to distribute goods as relief supplies. It’s quite a political move.”

When Lignite heard that the Triva lumber, which had been diligently stockpiled like a greedy squirrel hoarding acorns, would ultimately be used for northern reconstruction, he doubted his own ears.

In a situation where Angenas was desperately buying up lumber, that Triva wood could have brought astronomical profits.

“What did Pellet Trading House gain by giving that up?”

“Find out more about Pellet Trading House, especially about Cleribane Pellet. Then all the pieces will fit together.”

Just as Peres was giving that order.

“All departure preparations are complete, Second Prince.”

A palace attendant approached and reported.

“…Then please travel safely, Your Highness.”

Lignite bowed his head respectfully, as if he had never spoken informally.

Peres accepted the greeting and asked the attendant.

“Has there been contact from the advance party?”

“Yes, they report no problems.”

“The rear guard to protect the rear is also fully prepared?”

“All preparations are complete for the rear guard to depart exactly three hours after Your Highness’s procession begins.”

“Have all conveniences for the Lombardi young lady been arranged?”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

Now he’s even taking care of all the conveniences for the accompanying young lady.

Does he not trust us?

A hint of hurt crossed the attendant’s face.

But that was only momentary.

“Well done.”

With those words and a pat on the shoulder from Peres, all of the attendant’s hurt feelings disappeared.

“Everyone has finished preparing and is waiting, so what are you doing here, Second Prince?”

Pirenthia, who had already gotten into the carriage first, finally couldn’t wait any longer and approached with quick steps to ask.

“At this rate, we’ll only depart after the sun sets.”

Though she was smiling, her eyes weren’t smiling at all, showing she seemed very displeased with Peres.

However, even that expression looked pretty to him, so Peres suppressed his laughter and said.

“…I apologize, Lady Lombardi. Let’s depart right away.”

Peres courteously escorted Pirenthia back to the carriage.

And he himself followed, boarding the same carriage as he spoke.

“We depart.”

The carriage door closed, and the procession loaded with relief supplies for the northern region slowly began to move.

Behind the luxurious large carriage specially prepared at Peres’ request.

Peres’ empty horse, without its master, also lightly stamped its feet with a clip-clop, clip-clop sound.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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